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Sunday, January 1, 2012

Big Plans!

I guess I must be feeling the end of the year as a deadline this year or maybe I'm just trying to distract myself while the publishing industry is sort of closed during the holidays. Whatever the reason, in the past few days I have seriously been getting stuff done! I finished a long overdue interview and sent it to my oh so patient interviewer, I got brand new picture book manuscript all polished up and sent out to my fabulous critique partner, and, thanks to my daughter's nudging, I have a nice new author page on Goodreads. I also started a Picture Book Authors! list in my sidebar. Plus I joined Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12 in 2012.

I've also got some ambitious (or maybe crazy) plans for 2012. Things in my life are more different than they ever have been. This is the first time I've ever started the year with a fabulous agent on my side, I'm living on a new mountain, and I have Big plans, big plans I say! (Yes, that is a quote.)

Now, it wouldn't really be fair of me to tell you I have big plans and not let you in on any of them. But they feel so secret. I mean, what if I fail? What if I can't make any of my big plans come to fruition? *sigh

Well, one thing I do know is that my husband and I will be opening a breakfast cafe here at our mountain inn very soon. He's been cooking up all sorts of great stuff and I have been eating it! It's a tough job but somebody has to do it. Seriously, this cafe is going to be a lot of work but it's something my husband has always wanted to do so it's really cool to think that we're finally going to do it.

I will admit that I have this wild idea that, since we have an inn, I could host writing retreats here. But we live sort of out of the way (I think this might be an understatement) so I'm still at that in between place where I'm not sure if people would come. There's a lot of planning involved, but I'm at least going to get it all figured out and see if it might be viable. I do know that it would be great fun.

So there, I spilled some of my plans. Others are just not as big, like plans for the blog. I want to start up The Unread again. I do have at least one great interview set up! And some things, like selling books, are just really out of my control, at least once I've done my best to write a great story. So I will work on my big plans while I wait, and maybe I'll even come up with some more--although I'm note sure if I can handle any more plans than I already have!

So, do you have any big plans for 2012? I'd love to hear them. I promise, I won't call you crazy.

Why not host writing retreats there? Eh? EH? It looks like a pretty location and all. My plans...well, write and sell a second book, with any luck. Launch the first book. Hopefully take part in my second-ever SCBWI event. Write a picture book. THERE, I SAID IT, A PICTURE BOOK...

Wow, those plans are very big and very exciting! Good for you :)Hosting writing retreats sounds like so much fun. My big plan is to have my YA novel ready to pitch by May when I'll be attending my first conference.

I think that hosting a writer's retreat where you live now is a GREAT idea! I used to go every year to one in an out-of-the-way campground on the Long Beach Peninsula over on the coast and quite a few people came. Every year. I would even help you.

I would also like to reclaim space in my home and set aside time to finish a book/story. Could use some input on which way to go with it.

At the moment, my plan is to NOT give up! :p Your writer's retreat is a great idea. I've done 2 writer/illustrator retreats for SCBWI out here on the west coast of France--way out here-- and people came! If you make it, Heather, they will come. If you need any help organizing, just ask.Have a great year. PS I think breakfast is my favorite meal.